Sheet-metal-working tool



(Model.)

0. HUGO.

SHEET METAK WORKING TOOL. No. 271,638. Patented Feb. 6,1883.

iflm eew ilNTTan STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

CORNELIUS HUGO, OF SENECA, KANSAS.

SHEET-METAL-WORKING TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,638, dated February 6, 1883.

Application filed December '26, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS HUGO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seneca, in the county of Nemaha and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Sheet-Metal-WVorkingTool, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a tool designed to facilitate the operation of applying bottoms to cans, pans, wash-boilers, and other similar sheet-metal vessels; and it has for its object the retention of the flange formed on the walls, and constituting a ply or thickness in the seam connecting said walls to the bottom within the fold formed on the bottom,and constituting the remaining plies or thicknesses of said seam; and my invention consists in a tool having certain features of construction, hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

It is well known thatin the ordinary single and double seaming of sheet-metal ware care and skill are required in setting the flange and fold, lest the former is forced or naturally springs from within the latter and an imperfect joint formed. This may occurin forming or setting the seam by hand-thatis, with mallet and anvil-as well as by use of the ordinary roller seaming-machines, and theworkman isrequired to carefully manipulate the parts in order to insure the perfect tinion of the same in the joint. This manipulation consists in forcing the walls at the flange outward into the fold,

and at the same time setting the latter uponand about the former and guiding the vessel upon the anvil or through the rolls. It is apparent, therefore, that a tool that will perform the essential function of keeping the walls expanded and the flange within the fold will relieve the workman from the most-difficult portion of the operation and contribute to speed and perfection in product.

I am aware that in metal-working machines forms coinciding with that of the vessel being made have been used, and semicircular or curved end forms have been used in oblong vessels; but in this class the longer straight sides are more apt to spring inward and cause imperfectjoints; and I therefore provide means (ModeL) for their retention in position and rely upon the curvature of the ends as sufficient to prevent their withdrawal to such an extent as to separate the flange from the fold.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a tool constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig.2 is an end elevation of the same in position as when operating within a boiler which is being seamed in ordinary rolls.

Like letters refer to like parts in both figures.

The tool consists of two bars, A A, connected by springs B B, and arranged relatively as shown. Each of the bars A is substantially V-shaped in cross-section, and upon one of its laces is provided with lugs or projections a to give increased strength at those points where it is perforated for the connection of the legs I) of the springs. For the same purpose ribs a are formed inside of the bars. Handles a are formed intermediate the springs, whereby the bars can be conveniently drawn toward each other against the resistance of the springs and inserted or removed from the interior of vessels. To give greater capacity of expansion and contraction to the legs of the springs, coils are formed, as shown; but it is evident that a spreading or separation of the bars may be accomplished by using simply a flat arched spring at or near each end of the bars, and where the tool is designed to be used on only one or two sizes of vessels such springs would answer; but by coiling the springs the tool is adapted to be used in many various sizes of vessels. The V shape of the bars enables a close and continuous contact of the same immediately at the flanged lower edge of the walls, while if the bars were squareor round in cross-section they would not in all sizes of vessels secure such a contact, though in a measure they would be advantageous. I therefore do not limit myself to the exact shaped bar shown.

After the usual flange, e, is formed on the wall E of a vessel, and the usual flange at right angles to the bottom, or the fold fis formed on its bottom F and the parts pgt together, I take the bars A A by the handles and compress or draw them together and in sert them within the vessel and upon its hottom, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The bottom seam may now be set, preparatory to doubleseaming, either upon an anvil or by an ordinary roller seaming-machine, the projecting flange and fold being passed through the rolls C D thereof, the boiler or vessel being upright or inverted, as desired, during the operation. It is apparent that the outward pressure of the bars A A will preserve the desired position of the flange within the fold against any tendency of the action of a mallet or the rolls to displace the same, and hence an unskilled workman or any other is enabled to accomplish better work in a shorter time than without using the device.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sheet-metalworking tool comprising straight parallel bars A A, connected by transversely expansible and contractiblc springs B B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the V-shaped bars A A and the coiled springs B B, secured thereto in such manner as to maintain the bars in various parallel positions, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the V-shaped bars A A, provided with strengthening-ribs a and lugs a, and with handles a, and the coiled springs B, secured in perforations in the lugs and ribs, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CORN ELI US HUGO.

\Vitnesses: V

D. Sonoor, V FRANK GREENWOOD. 

